A Cambuslang mum has shared her fears for her son's future after he was diagnosed with a rare condition which has left him with a missing chest muscle and a webbed hand.
Mum-of-two Jennifer Mellin's one-year-old son, Finlay, was born in July 2021 and initially everything seemed to go as planned for the new family of four.
But parents, Jennifer and Christopher, started to notice that their son's left side was not developing at the same rate as his right side.
After several hospital visits little Finlay was diagnosed with Poland Disease in August 2022, a disorder in which affected children are born with missing or underdeveloped muscles on one side of the body, resulting in abnormalities that can affect the chest, shoulder, arm, and hand.
It is believed that 1 in 30,000 people in the UK suffer with the condition, however, many cases go undiagnosed due to the rarity of the condition.
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Jennifer, 35, told Glasgow Live: "When Finlay was born everything seemed fine.
"The day after he got home from the hospital my mum came over and noticed he had a webbed hand which had been missed. We were referred to plastic surgery.
"They thought they just had to do a basic hand release. Then when I put him into the car seat I noticed that he started to scream all the time.
"As he was sitting up he was squint and I noticed that his left hand wasn't growing at the same rate as his right hand. Finlay then started to attempt crawling, however, he would just push himself up with his right arm but couldn't with his left arm.
"His chest was then starting to sink. I took all of the measurements of his hand with me to the GP.
"We were referred back to plastics in August 2022 and they confirmed he had Poland Syndrome."
Due to the rarity of the condition it is unclear what real impact it could have on the one-year-old as he grows up.
Currently Finlay struggles to hold items in his hands which has led to the family purchasing adaptive cups and cutlery.
The couple dread the uncertainty of their child's future and are looking for more research to be carried out in Scotland.
Jennifer said: "We don't know how it will impact Finlay.
"There is so little research into Poland Syndrome because it is so misdiagnosed.
"As a result no one really knows what will happen to him. Right now he struggles with balance, he can't hold things properly because his hands are a lot shorter.
"We have to be careful when he is crawling because his left shoulder gives way. He has no muscle so sometimes when he is using it he can fall over.
"But we don't know how it will affect him growing up, we don't know how badly his chest will sink."
Currently the mum is concerned that when her young son eventually reaches school age he will be picked on by classmates and peers for his differences..
She explained: "It makes me scared for him because you see all over the media about the Be Kind campaign and I don't want my child bullied for being different.
"I know growing up he will be different. I don't know if he'll ever be able to ride a bike.
"I'm concerned that other parents will go through what we have gone through so far, that really worries me."
Following her child's diagnosis the brave mum became a volunteer and fundraiser for Poland Syndrome Support and Network (PIP UK) who registered as a charity in Scotland last month.
The charity have recently become inundated with referrals after 80s popstar Matt Goss, from Bros, revealed he suffered from the condition on Strictly Come Dancing.
Jennifer is campaigning to raise awareness of Poland Syndrome and is due to speak at the Scottish Parliament next month and hopes her efforts result in the opening of a clinic north of the border similar to the one PIP UK operate down south in Birmingham - which is currently the only dedicated centre in the UK.
The 35-year-old said: "The Scottish Parliament are doing an open forum on March 15 where people attending will be raising awareness of rare conditions.
"We are going to try and get backing for some sort of clinic in Scotland for children with Poland Syndrome because just now we have to travel to Birmingham.
"Travelling there is such a big upheaval and we have another young son. He is very aware of Finlay's condition and is angry that his wee brother isn't the same as other brothers.
"We have to think about whether we take Nathan with us to Birmingham or does he stay with someone here. If there is a clinic in Scotland which is a replica of the one down south it would be easier.
"There also has to be other children in Scotland with Poland Syndrome."
To find out more about Poland Syndrome click here
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